Football safety bench



April 14, 1970 K. H. KAHLE 3,506,307

FOOTBALL SAFETY BENCH y Filed July 22. 1968 5o soplh i ?L; 28 mi im i@ ii 40 i l /r n lo/i'l lo u lo H 54 ls 2 kla uM6 i F/G I Ssssf' 42 N 4 KEITH H. KAHLE ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,506,307 FOOTBALL SAFETY BENCH Keith Hayes Kahle, Fort Worth, Tex., assigner to New Ideas, Inc., Fort Worth, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed July 22, 1968, Ser. No. 746,396 Int. Cl. A47c 1/12, 5/00 U.S. Cl. 297-446 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A football squad bench is provided that prevents injury to football players who collide with the bench. The weight of the bench and its occupants is transmitted to the ground by spaced supports that include a closed frame having no sharp projections, and a vertically-extending strut. A seat and a back member are attached to the supports with the back member surrounding the strut. Padding is attached to all surfaces of the seat, back member, and supports that may be subject to impact by a football player who collides with the bench, and an abrasionresistant covering material can be attached to the padding.

This invention relates to a squad bench designed to prevent injury to a football player who collides with the bench.

A squad bench is almost universally provided to seat football squad members who are not actively participating in a football game. These benches are usually positioned parallel to the side lines of a football field, and only a few yards away from the side lines, to permit quick substitution of players on the bench for active participants.

The traditional football squad bench is constructed of Wood and includes a horizontal plank and downwardly projecting legs that support the plank above ground level. Such benches are inexpensive and relatively durable, but constitute an impact hazard to a player whose path during execution of a play intersects the side line, For example, end sweeps and side line pass plays often require both offensive and defensive players to maneuver at top speed in the vicinity of the side line, where their momentum can carry them well outside the side land into the squad bench.

Sharp corners at the ends of such wooden benches, the projecting legs, and the inelasticity of the wooden benches, make them a potential hazard for players even though they may be wearing the most modern protective equipment.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a squad bench that prevents injury to football players who collide with the bench, and is also strong, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture. The construction of the safety squad bench eliminates sharp projecting surfaces, and provides a resilient, impact-absorbing surface on all exposed areas of the bench that may cause injury to a football player.

The present invention provides an injury-preventing, squad bench for football players comprising a plurality of longitudinally-spaced supports, each of the supports including (l) a closed frame portion having (a) its lower portion smoothly curved with rounded bottom corners for transmitting the weight of the bench and its occupants to the ground, and (b) a horizontal'element for supporting the seat portion of the bench, and (2) a vertically-cantilevered strut projecting from the horizontal element to support the back of the bench; a seat extending between the spaced supports and positioned on the horizontal elements of the supports; a back member extending between the spaced supports and secured to the struts; padding attached to the side, top, and end surfaces of the seat, and the front, back, top, bottom, and end surfaces of the back member, and the exposed surr'ce faces of the supports to provide a resilient surface at all areas of the bench that are likely to receive impact lby a player colliding with the bench, and an abrasion-resistant material covering the exposed surfaces of the padding material attached to the seat and back member.

The invention also provides an injury-preventing, squad bench for football players comprising a plurality of longitudinally-spaced supports, each of the supports including a closed frame portion having its lower portion smoothly curved with rounded bottom corners for transmitting the weight of the bench and its occupants to the ground, and a horizontal element for supporting the seat portion of the bench; a seat extending between the spaced supports and positioned on the horizontal elements of the supports; and padding attached to the side, top, and end surface of the seat, and the exposed surfaces of the supports to provide a resilient surface at all areas of the bench that are likely to receive impact by a player colliding with the bench.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory but are not restrictive of the invention.

The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification illustrated one embodiment of the invention, and together rwith the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation View of the football squad bench of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a section view taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 1 and showing the padding and a layer of abrasion resistant material covering the padding on the seat and back members.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the football squad bench, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with the invention, a plurality of longitudinally-spaced supports are provided to transfer the weight of the bench and its occupants to the ground. The supports include a closed frame portion having a horizontal member for supporting the seat of the bench, and a vertically-cantilevered strut projecting from the horizontal element to support the back of the bench.

As here embodied, the squad bench includes three longitudinally-spaced supports, generally 10. Each support has a closed frame, generally 12, and a projecting strut 14 that is vertically-cantilevered from closed frame 12. As best seen in FIG. 2, the periphery of the lower portion of closed frame 12 is smoothly curved and includes rounded bottom corners 16 that transmit the weight of the bench and its occupants to the ground. A horizontal element 18 forms part of the closed frame and supports the seat portion of the bench as described more fully below.

As here embodied, supports 10 comprise a horizontal member 18 and a generally l-shaped member with the stem of the J-shaped member forming the vertical strut 14 and the bight portion forming a part of closed frame 12. With reference to FIG. 2, it can be seen that while the overall configuration of the I-shaped member is that of the letter l, the bight portion includes a central arch 22 that terminates at each end in a smooth, convexly curved, rounded bottom corner 16.

Horizontal element 18 is attached between the stern of the l-shaped member and the tip 23 of the bight portion of this member to form a closed loop with the .l-shaped member.

Preferably, horizontal element 118 and the J-shaped member are tubular and are constructed of a metallic material such as steel or aluminum and are joined by conventional techniques such as welding or braising. A plastic coating can be applied to the support to provide corrosion resistance.

The configuration of closed frame 12 and particularly the smoothly curved, yconvex bottom corners 16 eliminate sharp projections that comprise safety hazards. Corners 16 provide two points of ground contact for each support 10 and thus provide a stable tbench.

It should be noted that arch 22 which projects upwardly towards horizontal element 18 and the padding on arch 22 both contribute to making the vertical dimension of the opening in the closed loop so small that it is impossible for a helmeted football players head to penetrate through closed frame 12. Thus, it is not possible for a player to slide under the end of the seat portion of the bench and suffer head or neck injuries from passage of his head or neck through frame 12.

In accordance with the invention, a seat is provided that extends between the longitudinally-spaced supports for transferring the weight of the players seated on the =bench to the supports, and a back member can be provided that extends between the spaced supports and provides a rest for the players backs. It should be understood that the safety bench can be constructed without the |back member. However, the novel construction of the bench advantageously permits the inclusion of a back rest, which provides comfort to occupants of the bench without creating a safety hazard.

As here embodied, a seat 27 and a back member 28 are provided that each comprise a plank-shaped member. Preferably, scat 27 and back member 28 are constructed of wood -because of the ease of fastening other elements of the `bench to a wooden seat or back member.

Seat 27 has three transversely-extending slots 30 that are positioned on the underside of the seat and longitudinally spaced along the seat. T'he slots 30 are provided to permit insertion of horizontal element 18 of frame 12 into the slot to prevent longitudinal shifting of frame 12 relative to seat 27. Slots 30 also permit seat 27 to surround the front end 32 of horizontal element 18 and thus eliminate what would otherwise be a sharp, projecting body constituting an impact hazard.

Similarly, back member 28 includes three slots 34 with each slot permitting insertion of one strut 14 into the slot to prevent longitudinal shifting of the struts 14 relative to back member 28. Slots 34 also contribute to the safety of the bench by permitting back member 28 to surround the projecting end of strut 14.

Seat 27 and back member 28 can be attached to horizontal element 18 and strut 14, respectively, by a variety of means. As here embodied, a plurality-` of screws 36 extend through support 10 and connect: the seat and back member to the support.

As seen in FIG. l, seat 27 and Iback member 28 extend beyond the outer pair of supports 10. This construction helps prevent a football player from colliding with the outer supports when approaching the ends of the bench.

In accordance with the invention, padding is attached to all surfaces of the seat, back member, and supports that are likely to receive the impact of a player colliding with the bench. The resiliency of the padding and the shape of the rigid members of the bench, provide maximum protection for football players who may collide with the bench.

As here embodied and as illustrated in the drawings, longitudinal pads 37 are attached to the front and back side surfaces of seat 27 and a top pad 38 and end pads 40 are attached to the top and end surfaces, respectively, of seat 27. Similarly, pads 42, 44, 46, 48, and 50 are attached to front, back, top, bottom, and end surfaces of back member 28. The exposed surfaces of the supports 10 are also covered with padding 52 except where the supports rest on the ground. This portion of the frame is not Subject to impact 'by a player colliding with the bench and, therefore, padding is not required here. While padding can be provided on the ground contact portions of the frame, this padding would be subject to rapid weathering due to moisture absorbed from contact with the ground.

The padding can be of any resilient rubber or plastic material that is durable and water-resistant. The padding can be conveniently attached to the seat 27, back member 28, and supports 10 by a variety of adhesives. It is also desirable to adhere adjacent portions of the various pads to each other using adhesive.

An abrasion-resistant material 54 is preferably attached to the seat and rback member to cover the exposed surfaces of the padding on the seat and back member. Preferably, the abrasion-resistant material comprises a water-repellant material such as a vinyl plastic. However, a variety of other suitable rubber and plastic materials can also be used.

The abrasion-resistant covering material can be attached to the padding, or members 27 and 28 by a variety of adhesives or fastening means. If desired, padding 52 on supports 10 may also lbe provided with abrasion-resistant covering material.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the invention provides an injury-preventing squad bench for football players. The shape of the rigid members of the bench, and the padding of all bench surfaces that are subject to impact by a football player cooperate to prevent injury to the player.

In addition to its safety features, the squad bench is comfortable for the players who are seated on the bench because a back rest can be provided and the padding attached to the seat and back member provides both comfort and safety.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details shown and described, but departures may be made from such details Without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

1. An injury-preventing, squad :bench for football players comprising:

(a) a plurality of longitudinally-spaced supports, each of said supports including 1) a closed frame portion having (a) its lower portion smoothly curved with rounded bottom corners for transmitting the weight of the bench and its occupants to the ground, and (b) a horizontal element for supporting the seat portion of the bench; and (2) a vertically-cantilevered strut projecting from said horizontal element to support the back of the bench;

(b) a seat extending between said spaced supports and positioned on said horizontal elements of said supports;

(c) a back member extending between said spaced supports and secured to said struts;

(d) padding attached to the side, top, and end surfaces of said seat, and the front, back, top, bottom, and end surfaces of said back member, and the exposed surfaces of said supports to provide a resilient surface at all areas of the bench that are likely to receive impact by a player colliding with the ibench; and

(e) an abrasion-resistant material covering the exposed surfaces of the padding material attached to said seat and back member.

2. The bench of claim 1 wherein said supports each include a generally J-shaped member having a bight portion including a central arch that terminates on each side in smooth, convexly curved, ground contact portions, and a member for supporting said seats extending horizontally from and attached to the stem of said J-Shaped member and connected to the tip of the bight portion of said J-shaped member to form the closed frame portion of the support with the stem of said J-shaped member forming the strut of the support.

3. The bench of claim 2 wherein said seat and said back member are rectangular wooden members and include, respectively, transversely and vertically extending 5 slots to permit insertion of the front end of said horizontal member and the stem of said J-shaped member thus preventing longitudinal shifting of said supports relative to said seat and said back, and covering the projecting ends of said supports to reduce the hazard of an impact by a football player.

4. The bench of claim 1 wherein the ends of said seat and said back member extend beyond the end supports.

5. An injury-preventing, squad bench for football players comprising:

(a) a plurality of longitudinally-spaced supports, each of said supports including a closed frame portion having (a) its lower portion smoothly curved with rounded bottom corners for transmitting the weight of the bench and its occupants to the ground, and

6 (b) a horizontal element for supporting the seat portion of the bench;

(b) a seat extending between said spaced supports and positioned on said horizontal elements of said supports; and

(c) padding attached to the side, top, and end surface of said seat, and the exposed surfaces of said supports to provide a resilient surface at all areas of the bench that are likely to receive impact Iby a player colliding with the bench.

` References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,512,326 10/1924 Wynn 297-447 X 3,012,818 12/1961 Brown 297--446` X 3,025,104 3/1962 Murphy 297--218 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

